What is Israel's spiritual condition while they are returning to their homeland?
Israel’s spiritual condition while returning to its homeland is one of spiritual deadness. Though the nation is physically regathered—bones shaking, muscle and skin returning—there is still no spiritual life. They remain spiritually dead, awaiting the second coming, even as they think it is their first coming.
Les explains that Israel’s return is pictured in Ezekiel 37’s valley of dry bones—bones that were very dry and white as snow. That vision portrayed the nation that had been out of the land, away from temple worship, and blinded. Les teaches that God is bringing them back to life, as seen in Israel’s return to the homeland over the past 48 years. Although the bones have come together, muscle and skin have returned, there is still no spiritual life. Les notes they remain spiritually dead. He says this is the same analogy Paul uses in Romans 11: the whole nation is coming back to the homeland, coming back to life, waiting for the second coming, though they think it is their first coming.